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Grid: 10 minutes; meta: acquired a nudge 

 

Mike Shenk’s Wall Street Journal contest crossword, “Shifty Schemers” — Conrad’s writeup.

This week we’re in search of a four-letter phrase. I acquired caught on this one. I noticed this doomed rabbit gap:

  • 22a BERM: Earthen embankment
  • 23d PITS: Peach elements
  • 28d RHINO: Horned herbivore
  • 34a LEDGE: Pigeon perch
  • 40d ACE: Superb service
  • 45a WEEPS: Displays despondency
  • 51a ASS: Balky beast
  • 60a PRISONER: Pen pal?
  • 63a NEWT: Small salamander

WSJ Contest – 11.11.22 – resolution

They all had two-word clues that began with the identical letter (similar to the title). That couldn’t be a coincidence, proper? Well, it was. A good friend nudged me out of that rabbit gap and into the appropriate one: the clues have been necessary, however not these clues. There have been 4 clues containing the phrases “for example:”

  • [Pamphleteer, for example]: WRITER
  • [Cartoonist, for example]: ARTIST
  • [Baseman, for example]: PLAYER
  • [Trial judge, for example]: JURIST

Those entries are adjoining to longer entries that match while you shift one letter:

  • (P)TOMAINE -> TOMPAINE
  • BIKE(L)ANE -> BILKEANE
  • RO(A)DCREW -> RODCAREW
  • LACEI(N)TO -> LANCEITO

The shifted letters spell PLAN, our contest resolution. This meta is solely gorgeous. My hat’s off to Mike. Readers: let me know what you thought.

 

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